From left to right: Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. (3rd district, Pampanga), Majority Leader Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe (2nd district, Zamboanga City), Deputy Speaker David "Jay-jay" Suarez (2nd district, Quezon) (Facebook)

Top leaders of the House of Representatives didn't hold back in admonishing Vice President Sara Duterte in the aftermath of the latter's unauthorized two-day stay at Batasan complex wherein she tried to have her way with security and employees.

That she did all of these while avoiding to attend the House hearings on her alleged confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) misuse wasn't lost on Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. (3rd district, Pampanga), Deputy Speaker David "Jay-jay" Suarez (2nd district, Quezon), and Majority Leader Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe (2nd district, Zamboanga City).

“Malinis ang report ng Commission on Audit (COA) sa paggamit ng pera ng taong bayan ng House of Representatives under Speaker Romualdez, ‘di gaya ng Office of the Vice President (OVP) under VP Duterte,” Gonzales said in a joint statement Sunday, Nov. 24.

(COA's report on the House of Representatives' usage of funds under Speaker Romualdez is clean, unlike the OVP under VP Duterte.)

Suarez said the lady official continues to resort to "diversionary tactics" in order to avoid giving actual explanations to the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on her usage of P612.5 million CIFs. 

The figure covers P500 million under the OVP and P112.5 under the Department of Education (DepEd), which Duterte led as the secretary for two years.

“‘Yung mga paratang ni Vice President Duterte, istorya, drama, at budol-budol lang ‘yan. Sanay sila diyan, eksperto sila diyan sa budol-budol,” Suarez said.

(Vice President Duterte's allegations are mere stories, dramatics, and deception. They're used to that, they're experts of deception.)

The ranking congressmen likewise slammed the Vice President for claiming to have contacted an assassin to target President Marcos, Speaker Martin Romualdez, and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. This was in the event that she gets killed herself.

“The gravity of these statements cannot be overstated. A kill-order on the President is not only a heinous crime but also a betrayal of the highest order—one that shakes the very foundation of our democratic institutions,” Gonzales said.

“The Vice President, as the next in line to the Presidency, is entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding the Constitution, not undermining it,” added the Cabalen. 

Dalipe--despite casting doubts on Duterte’s remarks--thought it was still prudent to ask authorities to conduct an exhaustive and impartial investigation to uncover the truth behind the assassination plot against the Chief Executive.

“The people deserve to know the full extent of this plot, including any potential abuse of power or betrayal of public trust. The integrity of our democracy demands nothing less,” Dalipe said.

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“The Vice President’s role as a constitutional successor makes this case extraordinarily sensitive. It is essential that we send a clear message that no one, regardless of position, is above the law,” added the Mindanaoan. 

Suarez warned of the broader implications of such an alleged plot. 

“This situation transcends politics—it is about the survival of our democracy, the preservation of public trust, and the safety and stability of our nation. Any individual, no matter how high their rank, must be held accountable for actions that threaten the integrity of our government,” Suarez said.

“Conspiring with an assassin to target the President is a serious crime,” he underscored.